The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1887-02-02

ill haS a tendency TO lessen good morals
nd good orders in the community.
Section 202.ofthe bill has been referred
. as a relic of ancient barbarism. Allow
hat it Is, this amendment repeats it. Be-
tides section 21S of the fourth division of
The Revised Statutes containing the same
provision, and to my personal knowledge
men have been indicted, tried, convicted
and sentenced under that section, and
are now serving out a, term of years, and
who would be in favor of raising his
voice for the repeal of that section.
Ifany member here can point out to
me any discrimination in this law-any
provision whereby a laboring man is not
accorded all the rights and privileges
any other person has, or enjoys
with him, I will cheerfully vote
for the original bill. The member from
Madison has pulled his scrap book on
me and had made a resolution, adopted
at the last democratic county convention
of Gallatin county, and argue that I am
inconsistent. If l can understand the
language of that dictation I am standing
squarely on that. That does not ask for
a repeal, but simply a modification. This
amendment complies strictly with that
resolution The repeal of the law is an
imputation on the motives and integrity
of the laboring men. 1t infers they are
anxious for its repeal to remove all
restraint while the facts are they do not
succnmb to the law. There is no danger
of my man being punished simply be-
cause he violated a law through mad
vertence or mistake. The first section of
fourth division of the code provides that
in every crime there must be a joint
operation of act and intention, etc.-that
the intent is the essence of the crime
and it is only the evil doer who fears
the law.
ANDERSON, OF GALLATIN,
said that the law was unnecessary and
superfuous, inasmuch as everything
that was contemplated by the law was
covered by the general laws; that the law
was enacted at the suggestion of nj of
Montana's old misers, whose highest
ambition was to fill his Golfers with gold
and had no hope ofposterity. He thought
the law was unnecessary, as every law
necessary for the protection of Capitalists
and employees was furnished elsewhere
in the statutes. He fully conceded with
the views expressed by the legal gentle
man from Madison (Blake). He stated
that petitions were here from three or
four counties, asking for the repeal of
this same gag law, and they certainly
must have some reason for their action
in this matter. He dissented from the
views of the gentleman who had pre-
coded him. intimating that those petit
TONERS were not conversant with the
circumstances or the matter under con-
sideration.
He considered that law (the gag law)
as class legislation, intended to suppress
and keep down the working men from
having a voice in their own behalf, while
nothingin the world was given or assured
for their protection. Capitalists can
take care of themselves, and every pro-
vision is made for their safety and
security.
Ifa law of this kind has to remain on
our statute books, We see'no reason why
a law should be enacted restricting cap
~italists or mine owners from rejecting
employees who happen to be Knights of
Labor and all other protective associa-
tious.
The fact that petitions have come in
from several counties in the territory
demanding the repeal of this gag law
should Be sufficient evidence to the
house that the wage workers of thu
territory have taken this matter undel
serious consideration, have calmly de-
liberated on the subject and have arriv.
ed at the conclusion that the law was
directed against their interests and liber
ties.
The final vote on the motion was ther
reached, and resulted in its being carried
by a vote. of 16 to Z, chair, did not vote
TUESDAY JAN, GA petition signeG
by sixty-one citizens of Miles City
asking for the repeal of the commercial
travellers license law, was presented b,
Holt.
G. B. No. 11-An act to create thu
county of Park and for the election o
officers thereof, was referred to the com
mittee on towns and counties.
By Blake-H. B. No. 31.-A bill f1
an act concerning the trustees o
religious corporations. This bill is intro
duced as a remedy for the present law
the law as it now stands does not CIV,
trustees of churches sufficient p,wer
to handle and hold in trust the funds o
the church.
By Hanscom-H. B No. 32.-An &c
to secure persons and animals from dan
ger arising from mining and othe
excavations; this bill provides a sever,
penalty against persons for leaving Shaft
and other excavations without fenccs o
other guards around the shaft OF exca
vation.-
-. B. No. 24.-An act concerning mort
cages upon real and personal property O
corporations, occupied the attention O
the committee for the balance of tn
forenoon. This bill concerns the givin,
of mortgages or deeds of trust given b
corporations. and for a bill that occupie
a space of only about ten lines, provoke,
considerable discussion. 1t was iinall
agreed that the bill should be recon
mitted 10 the committee on incorpol
atoms for the pufpose ofbeing perfected
The committee arose.
H. b. No. "a bill for an act to estal
lish a hospital for the insaneNwas take
up.
FRIDAY, JAN. pa petition from M
tional Park Assembly Knights of Laboi
No. 1924, Livingston, Montana, asking tbs
a good law that will be effective, b
passed, prohibiting opium dens, was prt
sented.
DNttk.~-u E. MI NJ I